WARriors: A Look at Each Team’s Most Productive Position Player and Pitcher in 2010

Spring training hasn’t been very kind to the St. Louis Cardinals. First, Albert Pujols decided to table contract extension negotiations until after the season, and now it has been confirmed that Adam Wainwright will have Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season.

Pujols and Wainwright are both vital parts of the Cardinal team. In fact, the Cardinals are more dependent upon their best position player and pitcher than just about any other team. Combined, the Cardinals received 34.5% of their total WAR production from Pujols and Wainwright, the fourth highest percentage in the major leagues. So, the thought of losing one next season and being without the other this year has likely diminished much of the optimism usually associated with spring.

Top WAR Contributions from Teams’ Best Pitcher and Position Player, 2010Source: fangraphs.com

As illustrated by the graphs above and below (click to enlarge), which display each team’s 2010 WAR leaders relative to its position players’ or pitchers’ total, much of the Cardinals’ production emanated from Pujols and Wainwright. Among position players, Pujols contributed 32.4% of the team’s WAR (considering the Cardinals’ $100 million payroll, maybe $30 million for Pujols makes sense after all?), which ranked sixth in the National League and eighth in the Majors. Meanwhile, Wainwright contributed 37.4% of the team’s pitching WAR, a level higher than every N.L team but the Brewers.

2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Position Players)

Source: fangraphs.com

2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Pitchers)Source: fangraphs.com

Andrew McCutchen was the only player to compile a WAR that was higher than his entire team (including his own contribution). Other position players contributing more than 50% of their team’s total value included Ichiro Suzuki, Shin-Soo Choo, and Michael Bourn. On the flip side, the Twins and Yankees had the deepest roster of position players as each of their WAR leaders, Justin Morneau (an amazing fact itself considering he missed half the season) and Robinson Cano, represented less than 20% of the team total.

National League 2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Position Players)

Team: Position Leader

Team WAR

Player WAR

Percentage

Pirates: Andrew McCutchen

2.8

3.3

117.9%

Astros: Michael Bourn

8.1

4.2

51.9%

Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman

17.3

7.2

41.6%

Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki

18.8

6.4

34.0%

Dodgers: Rafael Furcal

12.2

4.1

33.6%

Cardinals: Albert Pujols

22.5

7.3

32.4%

Cubs: Marlon Byrd

13.1

4.1

31.3%

Marlins: Dan Uggla

16.8

5.1

30.4%

Mets: Angel Pagan

16.5

4.9

29.7%

Diamondbacks: Kelly Johnson

24.4

6

24.6%

Braves: Brian McCann

22

5.3

24.1%

Giants: Andres Torres

25.1

6

23.9%

Padres: Adrian Gonzalez

23.8

5.3

22.3%

Reds: Joey Votto

33.4

7.4

22.2%

Phillies: Chase Utley

23.6

5.2

22.0%

Brewers: Rickie Weeks

29

6.1

21.0%

Standard Deviation

24%

Source: fangraphs.com

American League 2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Position Players)

Team: Position Leader

Team WAR

Player WAR

Percentage

Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki

6.1

4.8

78.7%

Indians: Shin Soo Choo

9.3

5.6

60.2%

Orioles: Luke Scott

9.6

3.1

32.3%

Rangers: Josh Hamilton

25.1

8

31.9%

Blue Jays: Jose Bautista

25.5

6.9

27.1%

Angels: Torii Hunter

13.5

3.5

25.9%

Red Sox: Adrian Beltre

28.2

7.1

25.2%

Tigers: Miguel Cabrera

25.5

6.2

24.3%

Rays: Evan Longoria/Carl Crawford

28.4

6.9

24.3%

Royals: Billy Butler

14.1

3.4

24.1%

White Sox: Paul Konerko

18.2

4.2

23.1%

Athletics: Daric Barton

22.5

4.9

21.8%

Yankees: Robinson Cano

32.6

6.4

19.6%

Twins: Justin Morneau

31.2

5.3

17.0%

Standard Deviation

17%

Source: fangraphs.com

On the pitching side of the equation, the fluctuations weren’t as wild. Only three pitchers, Felix Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo, comprised more than 40% of their pitching staff’s total WAR contribution. Meanwhile, the most balanced staff proved to be the Chicago White Sox, who had two pitchers contribute a top rate of only 17.3%. One thing to note from the Yankees perspective is CC Sabathia contributed 35.7% of the team’s pitching WAR. With the loss of Andy Pettitte, the Yankees will either need the big man to maintain his impressive output, or have one or two other pitchers help lighten the load.